I'm released the next day from the hospital. Charlie drives Bella and me back to the house in his cruiser while making his new mantra, 'Are you alright Caroline?' I swear I'm going to die of boredom at this point. I'm not allowed to get up from the couch unless it's to use the bathroom or take a nap. Bella demands I drink nine, nine! glasses of water every day! It's utterly ridiculous! Nobody can drink that much water without blowing up like a water balloon!
Bella's birthday is in five days and I still have no idea what to get her. School starts again today and I'm not looking forward to it. The school day is the typical, boring one except with 10x the work.
Spanish is next and I'm not very excited. My brain seems to be functioning in pure Spanish. There were several times when Bella asked me something and I answered in Spanish before realizing it. I'm just so tired I didn't realize I guess.
"Hola, Caroline," (Hello, Caroline) said Jasper. I gave him a weak smile before taking my place at our table. "Escuché de mi padre, Carlisle, que fuiste hospitalizado. ¿Cómo te sientes?" (I heard from my father, Carlisle, that you were hospitalized. How do you feel?)
"Aparte de eso, sigo deslizándome al español, bien," (Other than that I keep slipping into Spanish alright) I responded. He chuckled, a rare sound.
"También escuché que tienes algunos. . .cicatrices," (I also heard that you have some. . scars) he noted offhandly. I immediately became defensive and angry.
"Edward tenía derecho a decirte eso. ¡No es asunto tuyo!" (Edward had no right to tell you that. It's none of your business!" I spat furiously.
"Tienes razón. No lo es," (You're right. It isn't,) he admitted quickly. "Pero, también escuché de tu hermana Bella, crees que las cicatrices son geniales," (But, I also heard from your sister Bella, you think scars are cool.) he said slyly. I straightened up, becoming immersed in the conversation.
"¿Prometes que no te reirás?" (Promise you won't laugh?) I asked miserably. He nodded once.
"No es que crea que son geniales. Quiero decir, no saltaría de un puente a un montón de rocas porque pensé que me daría cicatrices geniales o algo así. Solo creo que cuando obtienes una, es una medalla o algo así. ¿Sabes? Como '¡Oye! ¡Sobreviví a esto y regresé con una marca genial! ' " (Not that I think they're cool. I mean, I wouldn't jump off a bridge onto a bunch of rocks because I thought it would give me cool scars or something. I think when you get one, it's a medal or something. You know? Like 'Hey! I survived this and came back with a good mark! ') I told him. He took this into thought for a moment while I blushed furiously at my ramble. I wasn't expecting however for when he pulled up his sleeves and revealed barely visible shimmery scars; exactly like mine.
"Digamos que me metí en muchas peleas," (Let's just say, I got in a lot of fights,) he chuckled dryly. I studied his scars for a moment, my brow furrowed before I decided to throw everything the hell away.
"Los míos son así," (Mine are like that) I said softly. "Ciento veintisiete puntos de sutura desde la cadera hasta el hombro opuesto," (One hundred and twenty-seven stitches from the hip to the opposite shoulder.) I shudder unconsciously as my eyes recall the incident unintentionally.
"¿Cómo sucedió?" (How'd it happen?) he asked gently. I don't even think properly before the words flow out of my mouth.
"Yo no sé. Mi mejor amigo y yo íbamos caminando a casa. Fuimos atacados. Él-él me dijo que corriera y lo hice. Hubo un aullido, luego algo me cortó la espalda y me desmayé. Encontré su cuerpo dos días después, mutilado y en su propia sangre seca," (I dont know. My best friend and I were walking home. We were attacked. He-he told me to run and I did. There was a howl, then something cut my back and I passed out. I found his body two days later, mutilated and in his own dried blood,) I pause, before realizing what I've told him.
"Sabes. Creo que lo amaba. Incluso cuando estuvo fuera por una semana con mononucleosis, regresó y me ignoró. Entonces nuestros ojos se encontraron y ... y. . . Ni siquiera se como describirlo," (You know. I think I loved him. Even when he was gone for a week with mononucleosis, he came back and ignored me. Then our eyes met and ... and. . . I don't even know how to describe it) I said helplessly. I saw Jasper's eyes widen before the bell rang and he dashed out of the room. I was suddenly angry, why had I told him that?! He had no right! It was like I hadn't been in control of myself. I felt miserable and on top of that it was getting warmer in this room and I was starving. God, I was like some rabid animal or something!